Gym membership

[Flamingosarentreal]

What questions should i be asking on a gym tour?
Started c25k but realised i hate running in wet weather.

The cost of the gym is £900 for a three year contract.
As well as the gym it has a small pool so I could swim too.
Just wary of committing to 3 years.

I wouldn’t commit for that long. Even if it’s more expensive, go for six months or a year to see if you are actually going to use it as much as you think. So much can change in three years. I’d be asking about cancellation due to redundancy, illness, relocation, etc...

I wouldn't commit to a 3 year contract

3 years is long! You could brake a ankle and still have to pay! Way too unpredictable for that length of time

Ask if there’s any way of suspended membership in the event of things such as longer term illness or injury. I wouldn’t commit to 3 years unless it was somewhere I’d already been going and knew my personal circumstances were very unlikely to change.

I am a regular, engaged, enthusiastic gym goer. I wouldn't sign up for 3 years.

I paid upfront for 12 months last year, that's long enough. Life can change dramatically in 3 years...

If you're not a regular gym goer already then I'd be asking about the support available - will you get help and advice with programmes, checking your form etc, or do you have to pay extra for a PT session for those things. How busy does it get, will I be able to get on this equipment at that time. If they have classes, how does class booking work (will I be able to get into a class).

Three years! I adore the gym but would never commit to more than a year.

Check their class timetable - if the pool is something you would like but is unavailable at any convenient time for you due to aqua aerobics classes or swimming lessons then you need to know that.

Check the booking regimen for everything - gyms are under a Covid regime and that may or may not change any time soon. A lot of our members actually like the booking system so they may keep it.

Check what help is available for learning how to use the equipment and whether they will set up a program for you.

I wouldn't sign a contract like that for 3 years.

A long time ago (about 25 years ) we did this - a 3 year family membership at a health club. 6 weeks later the club went into receivership. We paid by 3 monthly instalments so only list a third of our money. People were saying afterwards that it looks like they were trying to get a cash injection to keep themselves going.
So, I would be wary of doing anything like this. Gyms have had a tough time with all the closures due to Covid and it may well happen that some businesses will not be able to come back from their losses.

3 years is a long gym membership. Most standard gym memberships are around 12 months.
Perhaps ask if they do a short trial period so you can test out the equipment and pool?
Also, find out more information on the break clause of the membership. You don’t want to be stuck paying out for something you don’t want to be tied into.